…defy police evacuation orders
There is an ongoing standoff at the Wadata Plaza National Headquarters of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party as some Governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and their respective supporters have taken positions and refused to leave the building despite police order to all occupants to vacate the premises.
As of the time of filing this report, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed were still within the PDP national secretariat.
Similarly, Wike’s loyalists were also holed up in another wing of the same party head office.
But while Bala, Makinde and the new National Chairman of the party, Tanimu Turaki remained inside the Bauchi Gov’s car parked inside the PDP secretariat, Wike was also holed up in his own car.
Earlier, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a prominent member of the pro-Wike faction, had earlier led his supporters to the Wadata Plaza.
Anyanwu, who was flanked by supporters, addressed newsmen, mocking the other faction over its last weekend’s convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
But as Anyanwu and other leaders in the pro-Wike faction were getting set for their meeting, Governors Bala, Makinde and members of the newly inaugurated National Working Committee stormed the hall.
The Governors were alleged to have forced their way into the NEC Hall, where they addressed journalists, saying because of the prevailing situation, they had postponed the BoT and NEC meetings till tomorrow (Wednesday).
The PDP National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki vowed that they were ready to protect democracy, insisting that Anyanwu and others were no longer members of the party.
As they were about to depart, Wike and some of his loyalists arrived at the party headquarters and also forced their way into the secretariat, which had by then been taken over by security operatives.
However, when they saw Wike’s car, Governors Bala Mohammed, Makinde and the PDP national chairman, Turaki decided not to leave the party secretariat.
Security operatives had earlier asked everyone, including journalists, to vacate the party premises.
However, the Governors and party leaders refused to leave, insisting Wike too must also be ejected from the premises.
